diff --git a/src/xrt/compositor/shaders/clear.comp b/src/xrt/compositor/shaders/clear.comp
index 036da401a..1f0e732b8 100644
--- a/src/xrt/compositor/shaders/clear.comp
+++ b/src/xrt/compositor/shaders/clear.comp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ void main()
 		return;
 	}
 
-	vec4 colour = vec4(from_linear_to_srgb(vec3(0.1)), 1.0);
+	vec4 colour = vec4(0, 0, 0, 1.0);
 
 	imageStore(target, ivec2(offset.x + ix, offset.y + iy), colour);
 }
diff --git a/src/xrt/compositor/util/comp_render_gfx.c b/src/xrt/compositor/util/comp_render_gfx.c
index 8e1a25aab..63537c927 100644
--- a/src/xrt/compositor/util/comp_render_gfx.c
+++ b/src/xrt/compositor/util/comp_render_gfx.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ struct gfx_mesh_data
  */
 
 static const VkClearColorValue background_color_idle = {
-    .float32 = {0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 1.0f},
+    .float32 = {0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f},
 };
 
 static const VkClearColorValue background_color_active = {